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January 21, 2006 at the
Chilocco Alumni meeting in the White Eagle Tribal Building there was a
handing over of a $3000.00 grant by Bret Carter, who was representing Conoco-Phillips
Oil Company. The grant was a gift made to the alumni. This will be used to
have a fence built around the Chilocco Cemetery where approximately close to
70 children were buried.
This date is a one year anniversary of the North Central
Ponca City Chilocco Alumni Association, who are under the National Chilocco Society. Great numbers of
chapters all over the nation from the east coast to the west coast, to the
Gulf of Mexico and Florida and into Alaska meet frequently. It has been
reported that there is a chapter in Tokyo as well as other parts of the
world.
Dan Jones, Ponca Chairman, spoke to the group. He told them master plans
are being made for the endangered historical monument, Chilocco. Several
possible options were mentioned.
Bret Carter spoke and reported that the work is continuing for
listing Chilocco as an endangered historical site.
Alice Sheeter read the minutes of the accumulated minutes from over the
year. Those minutes included the meeting of the alumni. Other than meetings
for fellowship and pleasant association nothing much has been completed at
this time, although there are many plans being formulated for the future of
the fast decaying school, so is told, and these prospects seem to be
positive and forthcoming. Certainly the receiving of money for material to
build the fence is one
bit of progress.
Security remains a fundamental need. Theft and vandalism is a big issue
now since the school is totally vacant with not even a caretaker living on
the grounds.
Garland Kent, President of the North Central Ponca City
Alumni Association, announced that I, Donna
Flood, had been appointed as historian. On that order of things, as
historian, it is my wish to work again with putting these old photos on the
web so the descendants can see a picture of a grandparent, great-aunt,
uncle, cousin or family friend.
Even though our president had to make some sacrifices for providing
tables, chairs, and other things for the meeting, it was good the meeting
was held at White Eagle. This brought the alumni to the reservation where
the Ponca people were, for the first time, able to see the loyalty and
dedication these Chiloccoans have for their alma mater. The discipline and
hard-working ways of Chilocco graduates are always outstanding and
encouraging to everyone.
The next quarterly meeting was tabled with no ideas forthcoming from the
floor, for where it would be held. It was mentioned that if the owning
tribes could see to make arrangements for the alumni to use the Student
Union building at Chilocco a meeting place would not be a problem.
Boarding up and closing off of dangerous buildings with large holes in
three-story-structures where at the present time living people can be hurt
from falling through is an issue. Volunteers, will still have to do much of
the cleaning up of the cemetery area. However, hopefully, maybe in the near
future this protecting of especially curious children, by shoring up
buildings will be accomplished as on a first thing “to-do” list. |
